After you apply – postgraduate study
Once you have submitted your postgraduate application, the admissions team will begin to process your application. You should receive email confirmation from the registry team that the University has received your application.
All offers will be sent primarily in the form of an email. More information about types of offers, how to respond and the pre-payment of fees can be found below.
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Types of offers
There are three responses that you may receive in response to your application. These are:
- An unconditional offer
This means that you have already achieved the required grades or qualifications to study your selected course, and your offer has been confirmed. - A conditional offer
This means that you have not yet achieved the required grades or qualifications to study your selected course, and your offer will only be confirmed if you obtain the stated grades or qualifications. The conditions of your admission will be given in the offer email and will include such things as the classification of your forthcoming degree and evidence of English language ability. If you meet the conditions of our offer, we will confirm your place, but if you do not achieve the stated grades or qualifications, your offer may be withdrawn. - We are unable to offer you a place
Regrettably, we receive many applications from well-qualified applicants and we have been unable to offer you a place on your selected course.
How to respond
You will receive your offer of a place by email which will detail how to respond and any specific deadlines. Your application cannot proceed until you have:
- firmly accepted the offer
- fulfilled any conditions listed in the offer
- if stated in your offer, paid a pre-payment toward your tuition fees.
We recommend that you accept your place as soon as possible.
Deferring an offer
It is not usually possible to defer an offer for a taught postgraduate programme. You may request deferment until the following academic year by emailing the School directly with your request, stating your reasons for deferring.
Pre-payment
If your offer requires you to make a pre-payment to secure your place, you will need to arrange for this to be paid as advised within your offer email. Your application will not be able to proceed until your pre-payment is complete, and your place with us is not guaranteed if the pre-payment is made after the specified deadline.
Find out more about pre-payments below.
Pre-sessional courses
If English is not your first language, you may benefit from attending a pre-sessional course. Pre-sessional courses at the University of St Andrews provides high-quality English language programmes for international students.
- An unconditional offer
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Your offer letter will indicate if you are required to make a pre-payment to accept and secure your place on the course. Your pre-payment will be deducted from the total cost of your tuition fees.
For applicants who require a Tier 4 visa, the total amount paid to date including any pre-payment made, will be displayed on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), where appropriate.
If a pre-payment remains unpaid, this will be taken as an indication that you no longer wish to take up the offer of a place at St Andrews.
How to make a pre-payment:
- Pay by international bank transfer (preferred method of payment).
- Pay by credit or debit card.
After you have accepted your offer and made the pre-payment
You have a 14-day statutory cancellation period during which you can change your mind about accepting an offer to study at the University. Once you have accepted your place at St Andrews and have made the pre-payment, your offer will become a binding agreement with the University of St Andrews.
The postgraduate terms and conditions (PDF) of this agreement will remain in force for the duration of your studies at the University.
Should the University require to make changes that materially affect your programme, the University will inform you. The policies on course revision, teaching provision and fee setting can be found in the further particulars of offers (PDF) .Pre-payment refunds
Pre-payments will only be refunded under the following circumstances:
- You do not fulfil the terms and conditions of your offer.
- You do not fulfil the academic conditions of admission.
- You have medical reasons for withdrawal evidenced by supporting documentation.
- You are not successful in securing a UK student visa.
- The programme is full at the time the pre-payment is made.
- You cancel within the 14-day statutory cancellation period (during which you can change your mind about accepting an offer to study at the University).
Pre-payments are not refunded under any other circumstances. To request a refund, you will need to complete the pre-payment refund form. The request must be submitted along with any evidence to pgt.application@st-andrews.ac.uk within 30 days of the official start date of your programme which is listed on your offer letter.
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Once you have accepted your offer to study at St Andrews, you enter into a contractual agreement with the University. This agreement includes:
- your degree programme
- the expectations of students whilst studying in the University of St Andrews community
- the University approach to delivering a quality learning experience.
The University aims to ensure that students are aware of the main provisions of the agreement and this document offers further information on key aspects of your offer:
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Each year, the University allocates some accommodation specifically for postgraduate students.
Prospective postgraduate students are able to apply for University accommodation once they have accepted their offer and, for taught programmes, paid the required pre-payment fee. The online accommodation application form is open from 1 March onwards. University accommodation is a popular choice, so you are encouraged to apply as early as possible to secure a place.
Students from outside the UK and EU
International postgraduate students who normally live outside the UK and EU will be provided with priority access to postgraduate accommodation. This priority access is dependent on you confirming your offer of a place before the dates outlined below.- 31 March: overseas applicants who have accepted an offer from the University (either conditional or unconditional), paid the pre-payment fee (for taught programmes) and have completed an online accommodation application by 31 March are most likely to receive University accommodation.
- 30 May: applicants who have accepted an offer from the University (either conditional or unconditional), paid the pre-payment fee (for taught programmes) and completed an online accommodation application by 30 May will still be considered for University accommodation.
- 30 June: the final deadline for priority access to University accommodation. We will continue to accept applications for University accommodation after this deadline on a case-by-case basis; however, if an applicant accepts their offer and pays the pre-payment fee (for taught programmes) before this deadline, this will increase the chances of being allocated a place in University accommodation.
You are encouraged to apply for accommodation as soon as possible and to confirm your offer of a place early in order to be considered for accommodation.
Students from the UK and EU
The University endeavours to allocate accommodation to all postgraduate students that apply by the deadlines above, but due to the small size of the University, it is not possible to guarantee University accommodation.Private property letting
Find out more about renting private accommodation in the local area. -
Postgraduate applicants who require a visa to study in the UK can apply to enter under the Tier 4 points-based system. Find out if you need a visa and how to apply on the visas webpages.
A CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) will be provided to you by the University to support your visa application, and you must wait for this to be sent to you before starting your visa application.
Find out more about moving to the UK.
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A contract is formed between the University and you once you accept the offer of a place.
The terms of this contract include the following policies, and your acceptance of a place is subject to them. For full details on our terms and conditions and policies, please see the relevant links below: